Junior Academy
2026-2027 Season
For U8, U9, and U10 Boys and Girls
U8=2018-19 (Aug 1, 2018 - July 31, 2019)
U9=2017-18 (Aug 1, 2017 - July 31, 2018)
U10=2016-17 (Aug 1, 2016 - July 31, 2017)
Give your young player THEIR START TOWARDS YEAR-ROUND SOCCER!
Our Junior Academy is the bridge between recreational soccer and competitive soccer within our club development pathway. Focused on creating a technical base for their long term development, our program puts like-minded players and families together in an environment that produces better soccer and more fun for these developing youngsters.
The Junior Academy is for players who:
✔ Love soccer and play outside practice
✔ Want to improve their skills
✔ Are ready for a higher level than Recreational soccer
✔ Enjoy learning and competing
✔ Are interested in continuing along the CFC Pathway to Competitive and Academy Soccer
PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS
For the player looking for more than recreational soccer
We believe every player has a pathway, and our work as a soccer club is to provide all pathways to players so that they can choose the one that fits them best.
Players who choose this program are those who have developed a strong passion for the game of soccer, and are interested in playing more, getting better, and competing!
This program is not for the most talented players, though many of the players may have experienced success at the recreational level. They develop because they love practicing and play more! These are very young players with a long development ahead of them, and our goal is to create a fun, inclusive learning environment that puts kindling on the flame of passion the players are developing for the game.
Led by Coerver® - the BEST training for long-term player success
Our Junior Academy is led by Coerver® trained staff utilizing Coerver’s world-recognized curriculum. The focus is on individual player development with a small-sided team element included in the programming. Our primary focus at this age is:
Ball Mastery
Creativity and 1v1 Confidence
Love of the Game
Decision making in small-sided play
Our program directors utilize a periodization plan that blends the Coerver curriculum with basic team principles throughout the year.
Higher level, sTATE-Wide competition in tournaments and league play
Capital FC’s Junior Academy includes the next step up in competition in the fall and the spring, playing in Oregon Youth Soccer Developmental Leagues.
In addition to league play, the program includes tournament play in the summertime, allowing for the next step up in competition from our recreational programs, and a winter indoor program.
Game Travel Expectations:
Most games in Salem or South Portland
Typical drive: 40–60 minutes
Occasional tournaments further away
Is this the right program for my child?
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The program is for players are ages U8, U9, and U10, utilizing the new Age Group Formation standards released by USYS.
U8=2018-19 (Aug 1, 2018 - July 31, 2019)
U9=2017-18 (Aug 1, 2017 - July 31, 2018)
U10=2016-17 (Aug 1, 2016 - July 31, 2017)
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$125/mo for June-May + $100 annual membership
Includes coaching and director fees, equipment, field rentals, tournament costs, league fees, and a ball for each player.
Uniforms are not included in program expense.
Scholarships of up to 75% of the fee are available for families based on need.
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This program is for players of all skill and experience levels who are interested in the higher level commitment of year-round soccer.
The commitment is higher in terms of time, season length, cost, and travel in comparison to our recreational programs.
The most important part of choosing if this is the right fit is to ask the question: does your player have a passion and love soccer? All players who participate will make significant improvements through the course of the program.
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Season Length: 10 months, with several breaks built into the season.
Practices: 2 practices per week (1 hour length)
Tournaments: 3 tournaments consisting of 3-5 games on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday throughout the summer time.
League Play: Teams play in the OYSA Development League on Sundays in the fall and spring.
Winter Indoor/Futsal: Players play indoors through the winter with 1 practice and 1 game per week.
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Practices are held at Capital FC’s Complex, Pioneer Sports Park.
Fall and spring league games are played in OYSA’s Development League, with games happening on Sundays in the Portland Metro area.
2026-2027 PROGRAM ANNUAL PLAN
Though these dates are not set in stone, here is an overview of what you can expect for the year.
SUMMER
MAY - AUGUST
PLAYER PLACEMENTS | May 4th and 6th, 2026
Through the player placement process, players will be run through a series of exercises that allow for Capital FC’s Junior Academy staff to evaluate each player. Players will be placed (if accepted) into groups based on the four pillars of player development: physical, technical, tactical & psychological.
PLAYER PLACEMENT TIMES : MAY 4TH AND 6TH
U8 BOYS (2018-19) | 6:00-7:00PM
U9 BOYS (2017-18) | 6:00-7:00PM
U10 BOYS (2016-17) | 5:00-6:00PM
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U8 GIRLS (2018-19) | 5:00-6:00PM
U9 GIRLS (2017-18) | 5:00-6:00PM
U10 GIRLS (2016-17) | 6:00-7:00PM
Please register in advance for the event online.
Following the event, players will be invited to join the program and attend an organizational meeting to go over details for the year.
Organizational Meeting Details:
When: Monday, May 18th, from 5:30-6:30pm
Where: East Salem Community Center (1850 45th Ave NE, Salem, OR 97305)
SUMMER TRAINING AND TOURNAMENT PLAY | June- August
Age groups will receive two 60-minute trainings per week. The first training of the new season begins following Memorial Day. Summer tournaments will consist of one tournament per month for the months of June, July & August.
Summer Tournament Schedule:
JUNE
Capital Cup Week 2 (Salem, OR) | June 26-28, 2026: All teams
JULY
adidas Beaverton Cup (Beaverton, OR) | July 17-19: Red + Grey teams
Oswego Cup (Lake Oswego, OR) | July 24-26: Black teams
Willamette Valley Cup (Eugene, OR) | July 25-26: White teams
AUGUST
Mt. Hood Challenge (Portland Metro, OR) | Aug 8-10: Red teams
Cherry City Cup (Salem, OR) | Sept 4-6: Black + White + Grey teams
FALL
SEPTEMBER - NOVEMBER
FALL TRAINING
Players will continue training twice weekly through the fall (60 minute sessions). These sessions will be held at Pioneer Sports Park. Sessions are led by CFC Staff and will fall in line with our development objectives for the year.
FALL LEAGUE PLAY
Players will play in an 8 game season beginning after Labor Day and will run from September into early November. The league that the players join will be determined by the team they are with. We anticipate these games to be played on Sundays in the Oregon Youth Soccer “Development League” South Division.
One important note is that rosters are fluid for the teams. Players will be assigned a primary roster for the season, but they may be asked to play in more than one game or to change rosters to fit the development needs of the player as well as the needs of a team.
WINTER
NOVEMBER - JANUARY
WINTER TRAINING PROGRAM
After the fall season concludes, when the weather is cold players will turn indoors for training and playing small sided games at Salem Indoor. Training will be reduced to once a week focusing on the individual player technique and receive one indoor game per weekend over 8-10 weeks.
OPTIONAL WINTER OFFERINGS
Players have a little more flexibility in the winter. For those looking for more, the following options are available: Thanksgiving Tournament, Holiday Tournament, Coerver Performance Academy, Coerver Holiday Break Camp. For those interested in learning more about supplemental Coerver training programs, contact Avi Hernandez (avi.h@cfcsalem.com).
SPRING
FEBRUARY - APRIL
SPRING TRAINING
Players will resume training twice weekly beginning mid-February. These sessions will be held at Pioneer Sports Park.
SPRING LEAGUE PLAY
Players will play in an 8 game season beginning in early March. Games will continue through the first weekend of May. This marks the end of the Junior Academy seasonal year.
OTHER INFORMATION
CONCLUSION OF SEASON
At the conclusion of the spring season, players will then be asked to move on to either the U11 Competitive/Pre-Academy program tryouts, taking place May of 2027, or to the next cycle of the Junior Academy Program.
BREAKS
Note that there are the following breaks that are built into the season:
4th of July Week
One Week at end of Summer
End of fall season through Thanksgiving week
Two week Winter Break
Spring Break
TEAM, ROSTER SIZE, and PLAYING TIME
Our objective is to form 4 teams per gender in the U10 division, 3 teams per gender in the U9 division, and 1 team per gender in the U8 division with roster equity of between 10-12 players placed per team. Within these age groups, players will receive a minimum of 50% playing time per game. If team rosters are not full, registration for the program is open throughout the year.
Following the end of each season, the coaching staff may move a few players to a different team to maximize player development. In addition, players may be asked to play on multiple teams on different game days depending on the needs of each individual team.
COST
$125/mo (June-May) + $100 annual membership to secure your Junior Academy position in May.
Includes coaching and director fees, equipment, field rentals, tournament costs, league fees, and a soccer ball for each player.
Uniforms are not included in program expense.
Scholarships of up to 75% of the fee are available for families based on need.
STAFF
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KEVIN PLECHL
JUNIOR ACADEMY DIRECTOR
Coach KP holds his United States Soccer Federation A and Youth Licenses, Coerver Youth Diploma II, United Soccer Coaches (USC) Director of Coaching Diploma, as well as multiple USC coaching diplomas.
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COLLIN BOX
CFC EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR/ COERVER OR DIRECTOR
Collin has been with CFC since 2008 and has been the Coerver OR Director since 2011. He is involved behind the scenes in the curriculum, planning, coach education, and program design for the Junior Academy. Collin holds his USSF “Youth” License, NSCAA Director of Coaching Diploma, and Coerver Youth Diplomas I and II.
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JOE WENTWORTH
CFC TECHNICAL DIRECTOR
Coach Joe oversees the player development pathway and team elements of the Junior Academy program and works with Collin and Coach KP to ensure the program is in line with the club’s “way of playing.”
Coach Joe has his United States Soccer Federation A and Youth Licenses.
FAQs
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It is all about commitment level. A big indicator of this is how much your player chooses to play at home or at school with friends. If your child has a passion, loves soccer and wants to improve, then this is the program for them.
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Skill level isn’t as important as your player’s passion and love for the game. These kids have a long playing career ahead of them, and our club believes in inspiring players for a lifetime of learning and enjoyment. We believe that the Junior Academy program will allow for players to develop good habits from an early age rather than having to un-learn and re-learn skills later.
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Rosters serve as a baseline for how teams will train and practice together. The coaching staff will form rosters so that all players are at a similar level to maximize their individual player development.
At the discretion of the coaching staff, some players may be asked to practice and/or play with a different team for specific games or tournaments. These decisions will all be based on how to help each player develop appropriately.
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Yes, although at times this may be difficult. Refer to the Program Overview above to see that there are a few “down times” in the program. These would be the best times to play other sports.
If a player on the roster of a competitive team desires to play another sport that has an overlapping season, it may be possible to play both sports. Some compromises may need to be worked out with the coaches of both sports regarding participation in practices and games. Some players may be able to successfully divide their energies, but some may find it very difficult to manage. A player in the Junior Academy program who chooses another activity or sport instead of participating in the Junior Academy will not be penalized for making that decision. However, a player may be dropped from the program if the player fails to attend a significant number of practices and games.
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Yes. We have several programs that are available to you if you decide that your family is not ready for the greater time and financial commitment of the Junior Academy. Players can continue to play in our Recreational Program in the fall, winter, spring, or summer. We offer our Recreational Program for players kindergarten through middle school.
There are also other camps and clinics offered by CFC and Coerver during the summer and the winter. Check our website for details as they become available.
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You can find all this on the Policies and Parent Resources page on our website.
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Players should wear a black shirt, black shorts, and black socks to tryouts.
Players needing assistance with registration should contact our office as soon as possible prior to the first day of tryouts.
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There is a required package for the jerseys and then some additional items that are optional for purchase.
The required jersey kit includes home and away jersey, black short, home and away sock, and training jersey. This will cost between $150-$200.
These jerseys are used for two years, with even years being the purchasing years.
Have more questions? Reach out!
Send us a message via the form, or reach out directly to our program director, Kevin Plechl.
kevin.p@cfcsalem.com
(503) 673-6708